FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ann & Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry
justice4chaudhry@gmail.com
Contact: Seth Manzel
Executive Director of G.I. Voice
Coffee Strong
253-228-8912
Muhammad Zahid Chaudhry, a decorated disabled American Veteran, is the victim of an ongoing witch hunt since the 9/11 attacks, and is being deported back to Pakistan where he will “inevitably be murdered by the Taliban for his service in the U.S. Army,” says Seth Manzel Executive Director of G.I. Voice. He came here legally over 13 years ago and has been married to a native born citizen for nearly 10 years. Their suit against the INS in Federal US district court for citizenship was dismissed on October 26, 2010 on summary judgement without any trial or opportunity to further present their circumstances.
The main issue is that Chaudhry qualifies for citizenship on so many basis, and there are no legal grounds to deny him citizenship. He qualified for and filed an application to become a U.S. citizen under the military naturalization program in 2003 (which INS claimed they lost) and again in 2004, which requires the U.S. government to provide expedited processing for citizenship applications for individuals in the armed forces. His military awards include: National Defence Service Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal W/M Device and the Army Service Ribbon.
He has never broken any U.S. laws, and has been married to a U.S. citizen for nearly10 years. He qualifies for citizenship based on “married to US citizen” also. Additionally, before injuries in service of our Nation left him in a wheel chair, he was an avid community volunteer. He served for thousands of hours as an unpaid volunteer for the American Red Cross (both as a general volunteer and as youth co-ordinator), unpaid Ready Reserve volunteer in the Fire Department (carrying pager 24/7 & responding to fire emergencies),Habitat for Humanity and plenty of other worthwhile community and civic organizations.
Last but not least, the Chaudhrys have two children and four grandchildren; they do not wish for their family and friends to be ripped apart by an uncaring, inefficient federal bureaucracy acting with repressive measures.
Chaudhry is scheduled for a deportation hearing at the immigration court in Seattle on Wednesday January 12, 2011 at 1PM and he has no legal representation. The couple reports that Senator Patty Murray’s staff, Lindsay Herbst, often sends them an email saying to “hang in there” and that they are “working on it”– a behaviour of our top politicians for the last 7 to 8 years. They have spent tens of thousands of dollars in this struggle for Justice, not to mention lost opportunity. “Our physical, spiritual, mental & financial capabilities have been torn asunder & ground to nothingness by this great Nation we both love & have served so much and continue to serve,” says Ann Chaudhry.
They are calling for the community to support them by writing emails, letters or calling Senator Patty Murray’s secretary at lindsay_herbst@murray.senate.gov. Telephone listings: 206-553-2195 Seattle or DC office below:
173 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-2621
Fax: (202) 224-0238
Toll Free: (866) 481-9186
You can see a short video clip of Chaudhry’s speech at Interfaith Forum on Immigration in Washington, DC at the website.
www.justice4chaudhry.info
